The Spanish verb 'repetir' (to repeat) comes from the Latin verb 'repetere', which meant 'to repeat' or 'to seek again'. The Latin word 'repetere' was formed by combining two elements: the prefix 're-' meaning 'back' or 'again', and the verb 'petere' meaning 'to seek' or 'to ask for'. When these elements combined, they created the literal meaning of 'to seek again', which evolved into the general concept of repetition we use today.

Some related Spanish words include 'petición' (petition, request) and 'apetecer' (to crave, to desire), which both come from the same Latin root 'petere'. You can see how the basic meaning of 'seeking' or 'asking for' is preserved in these words, though they've developed more specific uses over time.

Several English words share this Latin ancestry, including 'repeat' (which is a direct cognate), 'petition' (a formal request), 'appetite' (a desire for food), and 'compete' (originally meaning 'to seek together'). All these words contain the root 'pet-' from Latin 'petere'. The English word 'repeat' follows almost the same formation as Spanish 'repetir', combining 're-' (again) with the root meaning 'to seek'.